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  • A Seat at the Table

  • IT Leadership in the Age of Agility
  • By: Mark Schwartz
  • Narrated by: Eric Martin
  • Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (99 ratings)
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A Seat at the Table

By: Mark Schwartz
Narrated by: Eric Martin
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Summary

Agile, Lean, and DevOps approaches are radical game changers, providing a fundamentally different way to think about how IT fits into the enterprise, how IT leaders lead, and how IT can harness technology to accomplish the objectives of the enterprise. But honest and open conversations are not taking place between management and Agile delivery teams.

In A Seat at the Table, CIO Mark Schwartz explores the role of IT leadership as it is now and opens the door to reveal IT leadership as it should be - an integral part of the value creation engine. With wit and easy style, Schwartz reveals that the only way to become an Agile IT leader is to be courageous - to throw off the attitude and assumptions that have kept CIOs from taking their rightful seat at the table. CIOs, step on up, your seat at the table is waiting for you.

©2017 Mark Schwartz (P)2017 Mark Schwartz

What listeners say about A Seat at the Table

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Mostly criticism of the old paradigm

This was a disappointing experience. The author is clearly a critic of the old paradigm which is fine but I learned much more about what was wrong about the old model and much less on the detail of how the new model works and why.
I also found the language and tone of the book a tad pretentious which put me off the content.
The book also felt padded to me and I found myself skipping forward at times as he said the same thing over but cast in different ways.

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For senior IT leaders when the business isn't IT

From the relationship of IT and the business/in the business to agile, DevOps, shadow IT, build Vs buy.

Probably the most relevant and inspiring book I've heard this year.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Up there with Lean Enterprise

This is a really good interpretation of what Agile and Lean mean for business and in particular CIO's.

You might find it contraversial or I hope thought provoking, a lot of our current systems are about trying to control and constrain IT as if it were a 3rd party and miss the benefits of fully embracing it and using it to the benefit of the customer and business.

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Good book for all

I liked this book. It contained lots of great information from the philosophical to the technical. It promotes the agile framework heavily, and is critical of waterfall.

I think the book could he half the size though, with less waffle and more anecdotes and defined criteria to apply the knowledge in the chapters.

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This should be the reference book for IT leaders

Even the concepts are common sense, the book portrays the tendency of IT leadership and rebate better and more productive ways of working as IT department.

Inspirational and insightful!!!

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Essential reading.

One of the best books I've read. The delicate art of bureaucracy was good but this was more useful. I have bought copies for all IT leaders I believe need to read it.

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Great insight and amazing learnings

Thank you Mark for providing some great insights and lots of amazing learnings, allowing me to confirm my ambitions and approach to technology and the future is also shared by people such as yourself. Thank you 😊 Dom

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Leadership Gold

Mark Schwartz is a genius....
He spills out wisdom that cuts over multiple ranks & across various functions of an enterprise for the suffering CIO that wants to be recognised. In the end, it turns out the CIO is the HERO of the enterprise after all.

The narrator's voice is an easy listening GEM

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Modern view of IT

In a world where SME companies can have a ‘varied’ approach and methodology to IT processes and structure, this book gives some great insights to the trials and tribulations to It management.
Book brings together arguments and view points that can have numerous benefits for the business. A pleasant read that’s helped focus IT on VALUE

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Inspiring & fun to listen to

This read (listen) pushed me to question the so called collective IT beliefs (governance, waterfall...). It's a nice combination of questioning, disruption and vision. Its is also quite pragmatic and applicable. The narration is light and at times funny. Ultimately has inspired me to rework my vision at work. I want to go out and buy it for all my team....

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